Siblings Who Drowned in Lake Were in Foster Care

GEORGETOWN, Texas- State child welfare officials are halting placement of foster children by an agency in Austin after two young siblings drowned this weekend.

The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services said Monday that a 4-year-old boy and his 6-year-old sister pulled from Lake Georgetown had been in their foster home since last year. The agency is now investigating.

Witnesses told authorities the children were playing about 15 feet off the shoreline when they went under Sunday. They were taken to a hospital but could not be revived.

The children were placed in the foster home by Austin-based Providence Kids. A phone message was not immediately returned Monday.

Scrutiny on the child welfare system in Texas has intensified after foster care deaths tied to abuse and neglect rose sharply last year.

Comments may be monitored for inappropriate content, but the station is under no legal obligation to do so.
If you believe a comment violates the above rules, please use the Flagging Tool to alert a Moderator.
Flagging does not guarantee removal.

Multiple violations may result in account suspension.
Decisions to suspend or unsuspend accounts are made by Station Moderators.
Questions may be sent to comments@kbtx.com.
Please provide detailed information.

Online Public Information File

Viewers with disabilities can get assistance accessing this station's FCC Public Inspection File by contacting the station with the information listed below. Questions or concerns relating to the accessibility of the FCC's online public file system should be directed to the FCC at 888-225-5322, 888-835-5322 (TTY), or fccinfo@fcc.gov.